Ski stabilizer



NOV- 15, 1966 Lu VERNE G. sTEFFl-:L 3,284,823

SKI STABILIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 8, 1964 R.. m. d@ m fw M dm mm N t 6. l.

NOV 15, 1966 Lu VERNE G. STEFFEL 3,284,823

SKI STABILIZER 2 Sheets-Sheet Filed Oct. 8, 1964 Laverne G. Staffel INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,284,823 SKI STABILIZER Lu Verne G. Staffel, 3380 Texas Ave., Minneapolis, Minn. Filed Oct. 8, 1964, Ser. No. 402,564 14 Claims. (Cl. 9 310) This invention relates to a novel and useful ski stabilizer and more specifically to an attachment for an aquatic apparatus including an undersurface adapted to plane over the surface of a body of water with a forward portion of the undersurface of the aquatic apparatus disposed above the surface of the body of water.

The ski stabilizer of the instant invention includes means defining an elongated air passage extending longitudinally of the associated ski, disposed adjacent and below the undersurface of the ski. The elongated air passage extends rearwardly along the undersurface of the ski from the forward portion thereof disposed above the surface of the body of water to a point spaced rearwardly thereof and forwardly of the rear end of the undersurface of the ski. The air passage is provided with air inlet means at its forward end and air outlet means at its outer end. Air is ducted into the forward end of the air passage defined by the ski stabilizer for forward movement of the associated ski and also by a partial vacuum formed within the air passage by the rapid rearward movement of water past the air outlet at the rear end of the ski stabilizer.

As air passes through the ski stabilizer and is discharged from the rear outlet end thereof, the aft portion of the water ski rides upon a film of air thus reducing surfacefriction between the undersurface of the water ski and the water to a minimum and also affording an air cushioned and thus smoother ride.

In addition to providing means whereby all but the extreme forward portion of a water ski may ride on a film of air while planing over the surface of a lbody of water, the ski stabilizer of the instant invention affords means by which greater stability is afforded the associated water ski.

Although the ski stabilizer of the instant invention is primarily designed for use in conjunction with either slalom skis or conventional skis, it is to be understood that it may be readily utilized in conjunction with substantially all types of aquatic apparatus including a lower planing surface adapted to plane over the surface of a body of water at high speed.

The main object of this invention is to provide an attachment for aquatic apparatus of the planing type affording a means whereby a major portion of the under planing surface of the aquatic apparatus may ride on a film of air.

Another object of this invention is to provide an attachment defining an elongated air passage which may be secured to the undersurface of a water ski or the like and utilized Ito receive air at its forward end and to discharge air from its rear end so that the associated water ski may have air introduced under the portion of its planing surface disposed rearwardly of the attachment of the instant invention.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an attachment in accordance with the preceding object and including means by which water may be funnelled into the air passage rearwardly of its forward end and adjacent its rear end so as to accelerate the passage of air through the air passage and thus reduce the static pressure of the air within the air passage whereby a greater amount of air will be drawn into the forward end of the air passage.

A further object of this invention, in accordance with the immediately preceding object, is to provide an apparatus which is also functional to provide a means whereby the associated aquatic apparatus will be afforded greater stability.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a stabilizer for an aquatic apparatus including structural features which will also assi-st in the maneuvering of the associated aquatic apparatus.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects constructed in a manner whereby it may be readily secured to substantially all types of aquatic apparatus including an undersurface adapted to plane over the surface of a body of water.

A nal object of this invention is to be specifically enumerated herein is to provide a device in accordance with the preceding objects which will conform to conventional forms of manufacture, be of simple construction and easy to install so as to provide a device that will be economically feasible, long lasting and relatively troublefree in installation.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE l is a bottom plan view of a conventional form of water ski shown with the ski stabilizer of the instant invention operatively secured thereto;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the assembly illustrated in FIGURE 1 and showing the manner in which the forward and rear ends of the ski stabilizer are disposed above and beneath the surface of a body of water;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by thesection line 3 3 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken .substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 4 4 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 5 5 of FIGURE l;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary top plan view of a modified form of ski stabilizer including water inlet means adjcent the rear end of the air passage defined thereby and shown in somewhat of an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 7 is a transverse vertical sectional View taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 7 7 of FIGURE 6; and

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantially upon the plane indicated by the section line 8 8 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings the numeral 10 generally designates a conventional form of water ski including the usual forwardly and upwardly curving toe portion 12, an elongated generally planar body portion 14 and a depending rudder assembly 16.

The ski stabilizer of the instant invention is generally referred to by the reference numeral 18 and comprises an elongated trough-shaped member including the forwardly and upwardly inclined front wall portion 20 and an upstanding rear wall portion 22. From FIGURES 3-5 of the drawings it may be seen that the trough-shaped member includes upwardly divergent longitudinally extending side wall portions 24 and l26 whose outermost marginal edge portions are secured to the undersurface 28 of the body portion 14 of the ski 10 in any convenient manner such as by fasteners 30.

The trough-shaped member is quite shallow and tapers rearwardly from its forward end in width as well as depth. The opposite side wall portions 24 have outer surfaces which simulate lap strake construction and the forwardly and upwardly curving front wall portion 22 has a plurality of apertures 32 formed therein defining an inlet for the elongated air passage 34 defined between the spaced confronting surfaces of the side wall portions 24 and 26 and the undersurfaces 28 of the ski body portion 14.

The rear end of the ski stabilizer 18 has an air outlet opening 36 formed in the upstanding rear wall portion 22 and it may be seen from FIGURES 2 and 3 of the drawings that forward movement of the ski causes air to enter the apertures or bores 32 and to pass through the air passage 34 and outwardly of the outlet opening 36. In addition, the water 40 rushing rearwardly past the rear end of the ski stabilizer 18 creates a partial vacuum in the outlet opening 36 and thus assists in drawing air through the passage 34. As the air egresses from the outlet opening 36 a cushion of air is formed under the aft portion of the ski 10 and forms a film of air upon which the aft portion of the ski 10 rides. Thus, friction between the undersurface 28 of the aft portion of the ski body portion 14 and the water 40 is appreciably reduced and the film of air produced under the aft portion of the ski 10 cushions the ride. With attention now directed to FIGURES 4 and 5 of the drawings is may be seen that the trough-shaped member 18 is generally shallow V-shaped in cross-section and therefore that lateral stability of the ski 18 is increased. Still further, when maneuvering the ski 10 through a series of turns, the ski stabilizer 18 acts somewhat like a depending keel and enables the wearer of the ski to execute sharper turns. Still further, and with attention now directed to FIGURE 1 of the drawings, it may be seen that the simulated lap stroke undersurface of the opposite side wall portions 26 and 28 define longitudinally extending flange portions 44 and 46 which converge toward the rear end of the ski stabilizer 18. These flange portions 44 and 46 tend to insure that a maximum amount of water passes on opposite sides of the outlet opening 36 at a high rate of speed so as to further increase the partial vacuum effected at the outlet opening 36.

With reference now to FIGURES 6-8 of the drawings there may be seen a modified form of ski stabilizer generally designated by the reference numeral 50 and which is substantially identical to the ski stabilizer 18 with the exception of the aft portion of the former.

The rear end of the ski stabilizer 50 defines an outlet opening 52 which is similar to the outlet opening 36 but which is somewhat wider than the latter. The troughshaped member which defines the ski stabilize-r 50 includes four upstanding longitudinally extending ribs 54, 56, 58 and 60 which define therebetween and the upper ends of the side wall portions 64 and 66 a plurality of air passages 68, 70, 72 and a pair of water passages 74 and 76.

The side wall portions 64 and 66 includes laterally upwardly struck portions 78 and 80 which, together with corresponding pairs of upstanding sides 82, define water inlet passages 84, the portions of the opposite side wall portions 64 and 68 disposed immediately rearwardly of the water inlet passages 84 being bevelled as at 86 to scoop water up through the passages 84.

The water passages 84 are disposed in longitudinal alignment with the water passage 74 and 76. In addition, inasmuch as the forward ends of the ribs 54, 56, 58 and 60 are disposed slightly rearwardly of the rear ends of the sides or walls 82, portions of the water passing through the water inlet passages 84 fail to enter the water passages 74 and 76 and thus spill over into the air passages 68, 70 and 72.

It is, of course, to be understood that the water entering the ski stabilizer 50 through the water inlet passages 84 has an accelerating effect on the air passing through the ski stabilizer 50 from its forward end (not shown) and therefore that the air pressure within the air passage defined by the ski stabilizer 50 is appreciably reduced, which :reduction of air pressure tends to draw additional air through the forward end of the ski stabilizer 50.

Thus, it may be seen that the ski stabilizers 18 and 50 are quite similar in construction as well as operation but that the ski stabilizer 50 includes the water inlet passages 84 and therefore that a greater quantity of air will pass through the ski stabilizer 50 than will pass through the ski stabilizer 18.

The foregoing is considered as illust-rative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. An aquatic apparatus having front and rear ends and a planing undersurface having a generally longitudinallly straight rear end port-ion adapted to Iplane Iover :the surface of a body -of water and terminating at Iits forward end in lan upwardly curving forward end portion, said aquaticv apparatus being adapted to Iplane over the surface of said water with at least the forward end yof said rear end portio-n disposed immediately adjacent said Iforward end portion lifted above said surface, said aquatic apparatus including means defining an elongated air passage disposed adjacent and projecting below said rundersurface, extending rearwardly thereal'ong from a point adjacent the juncture of said lrear yand front end portions to a fpoint spaced rearwardly thereof and forwardly of the rear end of said |undersurface, the forward end -of said `air passage defining means including air .inlet means adjacent said juncture and the rear end of said passage including air outlet means.

2. The :combination of claim 1 wherein said means defi-ning said air passage compris-es `an elongated generally trough-shaped member extending longitudinally of said undersurface and including upper edge portions secured to said undersurface.

3. T-he combination lof claim 2 wherein said troughshaped member includes a forwardly and upwardly inclined front wall portion i-n which .said air inlet means is formed.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said troughshaped member includes an up-pstanding rear wall portion in which said air outlet means is formed.

v 5. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means defining said air passage comprises 'a-n elongated generally trough-shaped member extending longitudinally of said undersurface and including upper edge portions secured to said un-dersurface, said trough-shaped member including upwardly and outwardly inclined opposite side wall portions.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said troughshaped member is shallow land -has an :average Width greater than twice its average height.

7. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means defining said air pasa-ge compr-ises Ian elongated generally trough-shaped member extending longitudinally of s-aid undersurface and including upper edge portions secured to said undersurface, said trough-shaped member including upward-ly and outwardly inclined opposite side wall portions, said side wall portions 4inclu-ding outer surfaces simulating lap stroke construction.

8. The combination of claim :1 wherein said means defi-ning said air passage comiprises lan e-longtaed generally trough-shaped member extending tlontgitudinally of said undersurface and including upper edge portions secured t-o sai-d undersurface, said trough-shaped member including upwardly Iand youtwardly inclined opposite `side wall portions, said side wall :portions .including outer surfaces simulating lap stroke construction.

9. The combination of claim 8 wherein said troughshaped member .is shallow and increases in width and height from its |rear end toward its forward end.

10. The combination `of claim 1 wherein said means defining said air pasage comprises an elongated generally trough-shaped member extending longitudinally of said undersurface and including upper edge portions secu-red -to said undersurface, said trough-shaped member including upwardly Iand outwardly inclined ,opposite side wall portions, said side wall porti-ons .including outer surfaces simulating lap stroke construction, said trough-shaped member inclu-ding `a `forward-ly .and upwardly inclined front Wall portion in which said air inlet means is formed.

11. The combination of claim wherein said troughshaped member includes an upstanding rear wall portion in which .said air outlet means is formed.

i12. An aquatic apparatus having front and rear ends and Ia lforwardly and upward-ly inclined undersurface adapted .to plane over the surface -of a body `of water with a forward portion of said undersurface disposed above said surface of said body of water, said aquatic apparatus including means dening an elongated air passage disposed a-djacent and projecting below said nndersurface, extending rearwardly .therealong from said forward portion to a point spaced rearwardly thereof and forwardly of the :rear end of said undersurface, the forward end of said air passage ydefining means including air inlet means and the rear end of said pasage including air outlet means, said means defining said elongated air passage includes means disposed adjacent but forward of its rear end defining forwardly and downwardly opening Water inlet means for receiving ram water to be commingled with and to accelerate the :dow of air through said air passage.

13. The combination of claim 412 wherein said water inlet means includes a plurality of separate water passages spaced transversely -of said air passage and spaced inw-ardly from the opposite sides of said air passage.

14. In combination with a wlater ski of the type including a narrow elongated body having front and rear ends and a planing .undersurface having a generally longitudinally straight rear end por-tion adapted to plane over the surface lof a body of water and terminating at its forward end .in an upwardly curving forward end portion, said water ski being adapted to plane over the surface of said waiter with at least the forward end of said rear end portion disposed immediately adjacent said forward end portion lifted above said surface, an elongated generally trough-shaped member extending longitudinally of said undersurface `and including upper edge portions secured to said rundersurface, 4the forward end of said trough-shaped member .being disposed at 'a point adjacent the juncture of said rear and fro-nt end portions of the undersurfac'e of said ski and including forwardly and downwardly opening air inlet means, the rear end of said trough-shaped member including rearwardly opening air outlet means.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,831,697 11/1931 Ziegler a- 114-167 1,877,380 `9/1932 Baldwin 114-67 MILTON BUCHLER, Primary Examiner.

ALFRED E. CORRIGAN, Examiner. 

14. IN COMBINATION WITH A WATER SKI OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A NARROW ELONGATED BODY HAVING FRONT AND REAR ENDS AND A PLANNING UNDERSURFACE HAVING A GENERALLY LONGITUDINALLY STRAIGHT REAR END PORTION ADAPTED TO PLANE OVER THE SURFACE OF A BODY OF WATER AND TERMINATING AT ITS FORWARD END IN AN UPWARDLY CURVING FORWARD END PORTION, SAID WATER SKI BEING ADAPTED TO PLANE OVER THE SURFACE OF SAID WATER WITH AT LEAST THE FORWARD END OF SAID REAR END PORTION DISPOSED IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT SAID FORWARD END PORTION LIFTED ABOVE SAID SURFACE, AN ELONGATED GENERALLY TROUGH-SHAPED MEMBER EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID UNDERSURFACE AND INCLUDING UPPER EDGE PORTIONS SECURED TO SAID UNDERSURFACE, THE FORWARD END OF SAID TROUGH-SHAPED MEMBER BEING DISPOSED AT A POINT ADJACENT THE JUNCTURE OF SAID REAR AND FRONT END PORTIONS OF THE UNDERSURFACE OF SAID SKI AND INCLUDING FORWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY OPENING AIR INLET MEANS, THE REAR END OF SAID TROUGH-SHAPED MEMBER INCLUDING A REARWARDLY OPENING AIR OUTLET MEANS. 